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SUMMARY
The aim of this study was to analyze the mechanical behavior of different orthodontic retraction loops.
Two designs of orthodontic loops for closing space were analyzed: teardrop-shaped (T) and circle-shaped
loop (C), of two different heights (6 and 8 mm), and two types of orthodontic wires (stainless steel 0.19
0.25; TMA titanium molybdenum alloy 0.016 0.016). The sample consisted of 80 loops, divided
into 8 groups determined by the combination shape/height/type of wire, which were submitted to tensile
testing at a speed of 2 mm/min., to measure the quantity of force generated when activated in the interval
of 0.75 mm and 2.25 mm. The results were submitted to the ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests to com-
pare the groups, and the Students-t test to compare the means of two groups. Statistically higher values
were observed for the size 6 mm, circle shape and stainless steel composition. The group teardrop-8
mm-TMA together with the group circle-8 mm-TMA presented the lowest mean value, differing sta-
tistically from all of the other groups. It was concluded that the alloy of the wire and the height of the loop
would be more important than the loop design.
INTRODUCTION
Since the 1940s, orthodontists, such as Tweed and alloy used, type of movement desired and the quantity
Strang, in disagreement with the non extractionist of force necessary. When using loops for closing spaces,
theory adopted by Angle, began to reco mmend a new it is of the utmost importance for the professional to
treatment alternative within orthodontic planning, includ- determine precisely the system of forces generated; that
ing the extraction of teeth [1]. Thus, it was also neces- is, it is important for the orthodontist to know the magni-
sary to develop more effective methods for closing re- tude of the forces and the moments released when these
sidual spaces resulting from these extractions [2,3,4]. devices are activated [5].
Several orthodontic mechanisms were designed for When used in an improper manner, orthodontic loops
closing spaces. Among the various devices described, for closing spaces could cause unfortunate effects, such
there are many ranges of loops, which may be used, as: undesirable loss of anchorage, excessive verticalization
incorporated into continuous or segmented arches, for of the anterior teeth, root resorbtions, or other. These ef-
dental movement. Due to the large number of options, a fects, in addition to increasing the time of treatment, may
great deal of attention must be paid when selecting the also cause irreversible damage to patients [6].
most appropriate model for each case. In this choice, Among the advantages of closing spaces with the
certain variables must be analyzed, among them the loop use of retraction loops is obtaining better control of
design, it quantity of activation, wire thickness, the metal anchorage, provided by incorporating pre-activation
folds of different intensities into the anterior and pos-
terior extremities of the loops, as well as by positioning
*
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
them in the inter-bracket distances [7].
Miceli Beck Guimaraes Blaya* D.D.S, PhD Student In this context, three basic properties can be con-
Graziela Henriques Westphalen* D.D.S, M.S., PhD Student
Magali Beck Guimaraes* D.D.S, M.S. Student sidered for characterizing space closing loops: (1) the
Luciana Mayumi Hirakata* D.D.S, M.S., PhD, Dental Material proportion moment/force (M/F), which determines the
Professor.
center of dental rotation and thus enables root control
Address correspondence to Dr. Luciana Mayumi Hirakata, Av. during the movement of the teeth; (2) the horizontal
Ipiranga, 6681 - Building 6, Porto Alegre Rio Grande do Sul, force produced during loop activation and (3) the load/
Brazil, Zip code: 90619-900.
E-mail: lucianahirakata@yahoo.com.br deflection ratio, which defines the amount and decrease
66 Stomatologija, Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal, 2009, Vol. 11, No. 2
of the force systems delivered by these 3 loop configura-
tions for both stainless steel and titanium molybdenium al-
loy (TMA) for first-order corrections. All the specimens
had nominal cross-sections of 0.017 0.025. The authors
Fig. 1. Demonstration of teardrop loop made on millimetric concluded that correction of first-order discrepancies was
paper jigs
best accomplished using rectangular loops.
More recently, Coimbra et al [11] performed an in
B
vitro study with a mechanical testing and finite ele-
ment analysis of orthodontic teardrop loop and the re-
sults was that the use of teardrop loops of different
heights should be considered an alternative for design-
ing orthodontic appliances before treatment.
The aim of this study was to analyze the mechani-
cal behavior under tensile tests, of different shaped re-
traction loops, various orthodontic wires compositions
A C
and widths; and determine, within the variables ana-
lyzed, which of them most influence the system of forces.
Stomatologija, Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal, 2009, Vol. 11, No. 2 67
Fig. 3. Results of the comparison among the 8 study groups (in ascending order)
next, and did not differ from G4 and G 8. There was deflection ratio than a loop with the same configura-
no significant difference between G1 and G5 and be- tion, made of stainless steel [12]. Although the vari-
tween G2 and G6 (Table 1, Figures 3). able alloy of the wire had been evaluated in isolation,
The Students-t test revealed statistically signifi- and no significant difference had been found, the in-
cant difference when the variables were analyzed in teraction among the variables of this study show that
isolation (Figures 4). the wire alloy could influence the results, favoring the
application of greater heights to provide smaller forces
DISCUSSION during the retraction phase of anterior teeth.
For many years, stainless steel was one of the most
In this study, after the mechanical test, the circle- important materials for orthodontic arches [13]. How-
shaped and teardrop-8 mm-TMA groups showed the ever, since the early 1960s, researches in the clinical ap-
lowest mean values, differing statistically from the plicability of titanium as a structural metal for the compo-
groups that were 6 mm high. Although there was no sition of wires began to be conducted. Titanium wires,
statistical difference when the variable height was also known as TMA (Titanium Molybdenum Alloy) be-
evaluated in isolation, in conjunction with other char- cause they have approximately 11.3% of molybdenum in
acteristics a lower height could generate greater re- their composition, have all the properties of a wire said to
sults, according to this study. be superior: high elastic recovery, lower rigidity of the
This can be explained if one takes into consider- arch and high formability, in addition to being able to re-
ation that changing the metal alloy used for making the ceive welding, without reducing its resilience, and being
loop can alter the load/deflection ratio. Therefore, a resistant to corrosion. They have elastic recovery supe-
loop constituted of an alloy with a low elastic modulus, rior to that of stainless steel, and can be flexed twice as
such as titanium-molybdenum, would have a lower load/ much as stainless steel, without deforming permanently.
Furthermore, they release forces
Table 2. Comparison between Class II and Class III for right and left side (p0.05) that correspond to approximately
half of the forces released by steel
Group n Mean (N)* Standard F p
alloys for the same activation. Their
Deviation (N)
Teardrop-8 mm-TMA 10 3.10 A
0.58 37.85 <0.01 high formability allows them to be
Circle-8 mm-TMA 10 4.10 AB 0.65 conformed into various and com-
Teardrop-6 mm-TMA 10 4.88 BC 1.00 plex loop configurations [14, 15, 16].
Circle-6 mm-TMA 10 6.00C 2.21
Nevertheless, Burnstone and
Teardrop-8 mm-Stainless steel 10 6.41CD 0.77
Circle-8 mm-Stainless steel 10 6.93 CD
0.68 Goldberg (1980) [17] do not reco
Teardrop-6 mm-Stainless steel 10 7.85 D 1.87 mmend folds at acute angles for
Circle-6 mm-Stainless steel 10 10.70 E 0.82 these alloys, affirming that making
NS the difference is not statistically significant. complicated loops to reduce the ri-
68 Stomatologija, Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal, 2009, Vol. 11, No. 2
Fig. 4. Results of the comparison among the study variables
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Received: 14 10 2008
Accepted for publishing: 19 06 2009
Stomatologija, Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal, 2009, Vol. 11, No. 2 69